Sargent Shriver a Champion of Low-Income People

Following is a statement by Alan W. Houseman, executive director of CLASP, the Center for Law and Social Policy, regarding the death of Sargent Shriver.

"The death of Sargent Shriver is a great loss for this country. The legacy he leaves as a champion of low-income people is truly extraordinary, and we are forever grateful for his service to reduce poverty and secure equal justice for all Americans.

As a pioneer of the War on Poverty, he helped create and promote many programs that have improved the lives of low-income people, including Head Start, Job Corps, the Community Action Program and Volunteers in Service to America. He also spearheaded the federal legal services program, which provides legal assistance to more than a million Americans each year on issues including housing evictions, domestic violence, and access to benefits such as Food Stamps and Social Security.

Our country, however, still has a long way to go. Nearly 44 million Americans continue to live in poverty. As we mourn Sargent Shriver's death, we should also renew our national efforts to further his values - a country where poverty is rare and there is equal justice for all."